MARGAO
Over-enthusiastic traffic cops have begun implementing the new speed limits notified by the National Highways sans the mandatory installation of sign boards.Traffic personnel monitoring speed with the help of speed radars on the NH-17 at Sarzora between Chinchinim and Cuncolim is a common sight.
When The Goan questioned the cops enforcing the new speed limits sans the new sign boards, they were audacious in stating that the they challan the violators as per the notified speed limit, notwithstanding the presence of the old speed limit boards.
The national highway has notified the new speed limit on this stretch to 70 kmph for light motor vehicles, 60 kmph for two-wheelers and 50 kmph for others.
Though the new speed limits were notified in the gazette in late June, the speed limit is enforceable only after the National Highways installs new speed limit sign boards on the stretch.
Like almost all the stretches of the highway, the 50 kmph signboard on the Chinchinim-Cuncolim still stands, while the overenthusiastic traffic police are implementing the new speed limits.
When this question was posed to DySP Traffic Prabodh Shirwaikar, he said the job of installing the speed-limit sign boards rests with the PWD, National Highways.
But, when it was pointed out that the traffic police cannot implement the law without fixing the new sign boards, he said he would speak to the PWD.
A senior PWD NH official told The Goan that the traffic police can enforce the new speed limits by pasting a sticker on the existing signboard displaying the new speed limit. He, however, made it clear that the traffic police cannot implement the notified speed limits without first installing the signboards.
National Highways officials in the know say that lack of funds has come in the way of installation of the new signboards and they were scouting for sponsors. The Goan understands that the National Highways have approached an outdoor advertising agency to fund the erection of the sign boards in South Goa costing around Rs 40 lakh.
